Jim Rome

The Jim Rome Show, a.k.a. The Jungle, airs on more than 200 radio stations each weekday and boasts more than two million listeners. But these are no ordinary listeners; they are a legion of fans known as the clones who live and breathe for Jim Rome’s “take” on the day’s larger issues of sport. In addition to his daily radio grind, Rome returned to ESPN to host Jim Rome Is Burning, a daily, provocative sports talk show airing at 4:30p.m. EST. The program originates from Los Angeles and features opinion, Rome’s “rants,” debate and guest appearances by some of the biggest name in sports.

Rome previously served as host of the popular program The Last Word with Jim Rome, broadcast nightly on Fox Sports Net, for five years. Prior to The Last Word with Jim Rome, Jim spent a two-year stint hosting ESPN2’s Talk2, a nightly one-hour interview show. Rome began his radio career at KTMS, Santa Barbara as the “$5 dollar-an-hour” traffic reporter and covered UC Santa Barbara’s sports. He left KTMS for San Diego’s all-sports station, XTRA Sports 690. It was during a temporary stint on a late-night show for the station that Rome debuted his “smack” (Jungle Glossary term meaning sports talk in a gloating, uninhibited or unbridled manner). The style yielded high ratings, and, by acclimation of his listeners, The Jungle was born. In 1996, to further keep up with demand, Premiere Radio Networks acquired exclusive syndication rights and the program continues to pick-up affiliates throughout the country.

Rome graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 1987, with a degree in Communications. He currently resides in Los Angeles with his wife, Janet and their two children.